MALAYSIAN PM: NO ENFORCEMENT OF WILL ON AMBALAT ISSUE

Jakarta, Apr 24 (ANTARA) - Visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Hj Tun Abdul Razak called for negotiations rather than enforcing the two countries' own will to solve every problem including maritime boundary issues, especially the Ambalat question between Malaysia and Indonesia.

"The two neighbouring countries have to negotiate (in solving the maritime boundary issues) in a harmonious situation although it will take time," said Najib who was on his first visit to Indonesia as Malaysia's new prime minister on May 22-23, 2009.
According to the new Malaysian prime minister, there has been an agreement with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that they would call up each other when possible problems arouse between the two countries.
"I believe (such a measure) can prevent a problem from growing," said Najib who was inaugurated as Malaysian prime minister to replace Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 3, 2009.
Najib further said a channel should also be set up not only on the basis of G to G (government to Government), businessmen to businessmen or parliament to parliament but also people to people and media to media in an effort to seek a win-win solution.
On the younger generation, Najib said that young people in Malaysia had high point of view on Indonesia. "I encourage (Malaysian) young leaders to interact with their friends here (in Indonesia). Dialogs beetween Malaysian and Indonesian young people must continue," he said.
During his visit to Indonesia, Najib met with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
In his meeting with Yudhoyono on Thursday (Apr 23), both leaders agreed to increase cooperation in various fields such as defense.
They also agreed to continue joint security operations in the Malacca strait, increase defense industry cooperation. Malaysia on the occasion also offered cooperation in medical tourism cooperation.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the Malaysian prime minister visited him for lunch at his residence on Thursday as an old friend so they did not talk about politics.
In his visit to Indonesia this time, Najib Razak was accompanied by a number of Malaysian government officials such as foreign affairs minister, defense minister, trade minister, transportation minister, home affairs minister, agriculture minister and manpower minister.
Before becoming Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak frequently came to Indonesia in his capacity as deputy prime minister in his bid to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.
The trade volume between the two countries continued to increase in the past two years with US$15.3 billion in 2008 and US$ 11.5 billion in the previous year.
Malaysia's investment in Indonesia in 2008 amounted to 363.3 million dollars, which increased from 217.3 million dollars in 2007.